Amd S510, add SS1809-d & 224-a, V & T L; add S99-n, St Fin L; add S22, Transp L
Relates to increasing motorist and worker safety in highway work zones; defines terms; increases penalties; requires signage; creates highway construction and maintenance safety program to be funded through surcharges for certain traffic violations committed in work zones.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A1691A
SPONSOR: Gantt TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law and the
state finance law, in relation to enacting the Work Zone Safety Act of
2005 to increase worker and motorist safety in highway work zones
PURPOSE: To help make highway construction and maintenance work zones
safer for workers and motorists by strengthening existing provisions and
enacting new protections.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section 1 establishes the title of the act.
Section 2 adds a new subparagraph (xiii) to paragraph b of subdivision 2
of section 510 of the vehicle and traffic law to provide for a 60 day
license suspension when an individual is convicted of two or more speed-
ing violations in a posted highway construction or highway maintenance
work area.
Section 3 adds a new section 180-c to the vehicle and traffic law estab-
lishing the highway construction and maintenance safety education
program to provide education; advocacy and increased awareness of laws
pertaining to protecting the safety of highway construction and mainte-
nance workers.
Section 4 adds a new section 1182-c to the vehicle and traffic law
establishing the highway construction and maintenance safety education
program to provide education, advocacy and increased awareness of laws
pertaining to protecting the safety of highway construction and mainte-
nance workers.
Section 5 adds a new section 99-I to the state finance law, establishing
the highway construction and maintenance safety education fund.
Section 6 requires DOT to create rules and regulations that mandates the
presence of police in major active work zones as defined by DOT, the
presence of radar speed display devices in major active work zones and
an overall evaluation of a work zone by members of various industry
representatives and state agencies.
Section 7 provides that the bill shall become effective 180 days after
becoming law.
JUSTIFICATION: Highway work zones are becoming the most dangerous
workplaces in America with national statistics indicating that most
accidents are caused by speeding and driver inattentiveness in these
construction and maintenance work zones. Since 1999, highway workers
across this state are being exposed to more than 2,000 crashes per year.
Work zone crashes are a major concern for the highway construction
industry. This bill seeks to make highway safety a priority by educating
the public, increasing penalties for speed related violations within
these work zones including the suspension of the operator's license,
enhancing driver awareness. This bill also seeks to encourage cooper-
ation between workers and state agencies by requiring a system for
reviewing work zone safety. A mandatory surcharge is also imposed on
violations of work zone speeding restrictions to fund a highway
construction and maintenance safety education program to enhance public
awareness in general.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New Bill
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Minimal, but not fully determined at present.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect on the one hundred eight-
ieth day after it shall become law.
